Callista Gingrich Not So Popular, Poll Says

Callista Gingrich isn't particularly well-liked as a political wife, according to a Public Policy Polling survey released Tuesday.

Gingrich was the only candidate's wife -- out of Michelle Obama, Ann Romney and Karen Santorum -- viewed by more people as "unfavorable" than "favorable," a bad sign given the often-employed tactic of using spouses to humanize politicians.

The first lady fared best in the poll: 54 percent of those surveyed said they had a favorable view of her, while 34 percent said they viewed her unfavorably. Twelve percent said they were not sure how they felt about her.

Many of those polled -- 38 percent -- said they were not sure how they felt about Callista Gingrich. Still, only 18 percent viewed her favorably, versus the 44 percent who viewed her unfavorably. The poll doesn't go into people's reasoning, but Callista has been criticized in the past for seeming stiff and for being Newt Gingrich's third wife, whom he began seeing before he left his second wife.

The poll did not ask about Ron Paul's wife, Carol.